Everything is Communication
I work as an engineer for a telecommunications company. It's amazing how much time and resources we put into communicating with one another. Phone calls, text messages, email, and that's just the latest inventions in our long history of communication. What I've been trying to learn about recently are other means of communication. That might mean better PowerPoint presentations, or not using PowerPoint because there's something better to use. What I want to be able to do is to reach people wherever they're at, and that means being visual for the visually oriented, technicial for the technically oriented, high-level for the folks who don't want to get bogged down in details, and into the nitty-gritty for people who are focused on details. The other side of the coin is getting people what they need. Win-win isn't just a trite idea, it's a philosophy that should be at the core of what we do. Our interactions should have positive outcomes which encourage others to interact with us more.
So I'm focusing on my communications throughout the day with everyone. Communication at work, at home, it's all important for me. I hope to always bring about the most positive outcome for every situation I'm in. And to do that, I'm considering everything I do to be communication. How well I do a job communicates how seriously I take it. How much time I spend with a person communicates how important they are to me. I don't expect to be able to communicate perfectly, but with this focus, I hope to improve to the best of my ability.
Comments
Everything is communciation, even when you are sitting there silently. Try spending the day not talking and people will think there is something wrong with you. If your wife doesn't talk to you it's obvious that she is trying to communicate something.
I love the philosophy that says, "the result you are getting is the real message of your communication". We have a lot of technology available, but the technology is only a tool. The whole purpose is the meaning of the message. What are we achieving the result we want? So many times people simply feel the need to fill up the silence and simply send a lot of noise with no real thought as to what message is being communicated.
Taking charge of your comunication you are receiving is a great idea, and project. I wish you luck.
Steve Chambers Sales Training Blog
Steve Chambers
I couldn't agree with you more.
And Steve, well put. All of our communication tools can sometimes really get in the WAY of genuine communication. interestingly enough today 2 of the text messages I got were some of the best, warmest, and most genuine communications I had. So, it IS possible.
Indeed, with my clients, I ask them about, what is your online profile communicating about you? is it drawing people to you for dates? Are you getting out as often as you really want and need to create the relationships you want. Are the people who are getting dates with the sort you'd want to consider a relationship with? Or do you need to rethink what you are communicating?
Cheers!
April Braswell Online Dating, Online Personals, Romantic Relationships Blog
April Braswell, Online Dating, Relationship Coach Blogspot
Steve,
Absolutely, the impact of our communication is supremely important. We can get bogged down in social convention where the "noise" generated from social conventions overtakes any real signal. In Games People Play, there's an idea that people have these little rituals in order to have basic social needs fulfilled. So we say hi to one another, talk about the weather, etc. It's a way of getting a little closer to people, but not too close, because we feel threatened when that happens. I certainly don't think that's going to get overthrown. But I need to be able to be close to people when it counts, to build relationships that matter, and strengthen the relationships that I have. I want to do more than just fill the silence, like you said.
Thanks for the support!
Aaron
www.aaronagostini.net
April,
I think you're in an interesting position. You work with people who are looking for serious relationships. So they would want to honest about who they are and what they're looking for. On the same token, there can be a tendency to exaggerate (or in the online world outright lie). How do you deal with someone who might not feel comfortable enough with who they are to put themselves out there? I think you had mentioned elsewhere that people's biggest fear is being rejected. Can they be encouraged to be honest and courageous in seeking a partner? Both my wife and I feel that we met each other when we were ready, and I think accepting who you are is part of that readiness.
Aaron
Excellent article Aaron! It's such a pleasure to see that there are people in the world who believe in the 'win/win' situation, like yourself. There is so much that leans the other way that we are influenced by in the media. I am particularly fond of this line:
"Our interactions should have positive outcomes which encourage others to interact with us more. "
As a lifestyle empowerment mentor, this is close to my heart. Keep up the good work!
Sue
Thanks for stopping by and giving me such kind thoughts! I think I'll be blogging a lot about what win/win really means, because I think it's the type of thing people don't value very highly. It's a very useful prism to view our actions through.
What type of mentorship do your provide Sue?
Aaron